Tool for use in cementing well casing



March 10, 1964 J. R. SOLUM ETAL 3,124,198

TOOL FOR USE IN CEMENTING WELL CASING Filed Sept. 6, 1960 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIG. 3.

JAMES R. SOLUM WILLIAM C. HEMPEL CONRAD R. SOLUM, JR.

INVENTORS ATTORNEYS March 10, 1964 J. R. SOLUM :TAL 3,124,198

TOOL FOR USE IN CEMENTING WELL CASING Fil ed Sept. 6, 1960 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG. 5.

FIG. 7.

JAMES R. SOLUM WILLIAM C. HEMPEL CONRAD R. SOLUM, JR.

IN V EN TORS BY 7 n6 ATTORNEYS March 10, 1964 J. R. SOLUM ETAL 3,124,198

TOOL FOR USE IN CEMENTING WELL CASING Filed Sept. 6, 1960 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 FIG. ll.

JAMES R. SOLUM WILLIAM C. HEMPEL IN V EN TORS CONRAD R. SOLUM, JR.

ATTORNEYS,

United States Patent 'IGGEL FGR USE IN CEMENIING WELL CASING James It. Solnrn, Los Angeles, and William C. Hempel (Ionrad R. Salem, In, Manhattan Beach, t'lalih,

assignors to B 8; W Incorporated, Torrance, Calif., 21

corporatian of California Filed Sept. 6, 1960, Ser. No. 54,314 6 Elaims. (Cl. 166-472) This invention relates to apparatus of the general type shown in Wright Patent 2,881,840 for use in completion of oil and gas wells.

In the completion of oil and gas wells it is conventional practice to place cement in the annular space between the well pipe and the wall of the formation. It is desirable that the cement completely fill the annular space. Before cementing the normal practice is to circulate the drilling mud by pumping it down the inside of the well pipe to the bottom of the hole and up the annular space to the surface. lowever, all of the drilling mud in the annular space is not put in motion by such pumping and on the contrary the fluid flow establishes channeling through the static drilling mud in the annular space. If cement is pumped in under these conditions it too assumes the channeling condition previously established and the annular space is not completely filled with cement as desired.

In order to displace the drilling mud completely with the cement, the mud must be completelly fluid and totally in motion. If SlllIlClGl'lt turbulence is created within the drilling mud it will all be in motion. Such turbulence can be created by sufiiciently high pumping velocities or by placing devices on the exterior of the well pipe which upon rotation or reciprocation of the well pipe agitate the drilling mud sutliciently to reduce the static or gelled mud to a fluid state capable of being displaced by the cement.

The principal object of this invention is to provide new and improved means for mounting flexible cable turbulence generating elements on the outer surface of the carrier. The carrier may comprise a cylindrical collar adapted to encircle the well pipe or may comprise a longitudinally extending member adapted to be fixed to the exterior of the well pipe. The collar type may be of a solid cylindrical form or may be hinged if lateral application to the well pipe is desired.

A more particular object of this invention is to provide a turbulence generating device for oil wells having a plurality of flexible cable loops secured to a carrier, each loop comprising a portion of one continuous length of flexible cable.

Another object is to provide a device of the type described which is particularly adapted for economical manufacturing processes and minimizes the number of cable lengths which must be handled.

Another object is to simplify the assembly operation in a device of the type described by using a continuous cable or" substantial length to eliminate delicate handling. Under normal conditions when multiple strand wire cable is cut the ends begin to fray which makes assembly dimcult. By using one continuous cable the number of cut ends is minimized thereby facilitating assembly.

Other and more detailed objects and advantages will appear hereinafter.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is an elevation view showing the well tool device constituting a preferred embodiment of our invention.

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged detail taken substantially on the line 2-2 as shown in FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged detail taken substantially on the line 33 as shown in FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 4 is an elevation view showing a modified form of our invention.

FIGURE 5 is an enlarged detail taken substantially on line 55 as shown in FIGURE 4.

FIGURE 6 is an enlarged detail taken substantially on line 66 as shown in FIGURE 4.

FIGURE 7 is a fragmentary elevation view showing a second modified form of our invention.

FIGURE 8 is a sectional view taken substantially on line 8-8 as shown in FIGURE 7.

FIGURE 9 is a fragmentary elevation view showing a third modified form of our invention.

FIGURE 10 is a sectional view taken substantially on line Iil1tl as shown in FIGURE 9.

FIGURE 11 is a fragmentary elevation view showing a fourth modified form of our invention.

FIGURE 12 is a sectional view taken substantially on line I212 as shown in FIGURE 11.

Referring to the drawings, the turbulence generating device generally designated 10 includes a carrier sleeve 11 which may be fixed to the Well pipe 12 by any convenient means, for example, by weld metal 13.

The turbulence generating elements which extend into the annular space outside the well pipe are formed of a continuous length of multiple strand wire cable 14 in the form of arched loops 15 having a right-hand base portion In and a left-hand base portion 1'7 fixed to the carrier sleeve at circumferentially spaced locations. As shown in the drawings, the base portions of adjacent loops are secured to the carrier by one retainer 18 and positioned such that the right-hand base portion I6 of each loop is to the right of the left-hand base portion I7 of the adjacent loop to the right so that one loop overlaps the loops on each side of it. Retainer i8 is fixed to the carrier sleeve 11 by any convenient means, for example, by spot or projection weld 19.

A locking tab Ztl is lanced from the material of sleeve 11 and bent to define an abutting shoulder 21 which mashes segments of the cable against the retainer I8 causing the loop portions 15 to project outwardly from the well pipe for yieldable and slidable engagement of the well bore wall 23.

A positioning collar 22 is fixed to the continuous cable length 14 before securing same to the carrier and said collar serves to establish the loop size for final assembly and to crimp the cable for ready application of the retainer 18 in the final assembly.

In the modified form of our invention shown in FIG- URES 4, 5 and 6 the carrier for the turbulence generating elements is a carrier strip 11:: rurming longitudinally on the well pipe rather than encircling same. Furthermore turbulence is generated by rotating rather than reciprocat ing the well pipe 12 relative to the well bore wall 23. The manner of securing the base portions 16 and I7 difiers in that the bridge element 18a is lanced from the carrier material and the positioning collar 22 is inserted through the aperture formed and then the bridge element is compressed on the cable base portions 15 and 1'7 as best shown in FIGURE 6. In this modified form the positioning collar 22 also serves to ease the insertion of the cable in the aperture formed by the bridge element 18a since it pre-crimps the cable".

The modified form of our invention shown in FIGURES 7 and 8 eliminates the need for positioning collars on the cable length by providing a post element 3%) lanced from the material of the carrier sleeve or strip on which can be looped the base portion 31 of the turbulence generating loops during assembly. A retainer 18b is fixed to the carrier by any convenient means, for example, by spot or projection weld 19b and serves to secure cable base portion 31 to the carrier. A locking tab Ztlb, substantially similar to locking tabs 2b in other forms, is provided to force the arched loop 15 to project outwardly for yieldable and slidable engagement of the well bore wall.

The modified form of our invention shown in FIG- URES 9 and it) provides a construction capable of manufacture entirely in a punch press and eliminates the need for positioning collars being installed on the flexible cable before assembly The retainer receiving aperture 4th is punched from the carrier sleeve or strip and the retainer 18c is inserted from the inside to a position whereby the shoulder of said retainer abutts the interior surface of the carrier. The base portion 31c of the cable loop is positioned around the retainer 180 and both are secured to the carrier by folding the upper portion 42 of the said retainer down over the cable base portion 310 and compressing same. A locking tab 260 is formed integrally with the material of the carrier substantially similar to forms of our invention shown in FIGURES l8.

The modified form of our invention shown in FIG URES 11 and 12 provides a retainer 18d which is installed on the continuous cable length at predetermined intervals prior to final assembly with the carrier. The said retainer includes locking tabs 28d which serve to secure the cable base portion Bid to the retainer and project the cable loop between retainers outwardly from the carrier when installed. Any convenient means for fixing the retainers to the carrier at spaced intervals, for example, spot or projection Weld 19a. In this modified form the handling of the cable length in the final assembly is simplified and the number of operations is minimixed.

It should be observed that the preferred form and all the modified forms of our invention are adaptable for use on either a sleeve type carrier as shown by FIGURE 1 or a strip type carrier as shown by FIGURE 4.

Having fully described our invention, it is to be understood that we do not wish to be limited to the details set forth above, but our invention is of the full scope of the appended claims.

We claim:

1. In a device of the class described for generating turbulence in the annular space between a well pipe and the well bore, the combination of: a metallic carrier adapted to be mounted on a well pipe, a plurality of post elements formed integrally with said carrier and projecting outwardly, a continuous length of multiple strand wire cable with segments partially encircling each said post element and the remaining portions of cable between said segments forming arched loops between said post elements, a plurality of retainers having means for securing said retainers to said carrier, one retainer for mounting over each said post element and encircling a cable segment for anchoring said cable segment to said carrier, said retainer having wall portions partially encircling and spaced a distance from said post element less than the normal diameter of said cable segment for anchoring said cable segment by squeezing the cable segment between said post element and said retainer wall portions and between said carrier and said retainer, and means provided integrally with the carrier to force the loop portions of the cable length to project outwardly from the well pipe.

2. The combination set forth in claim 1 in which the carrier comprises a cylindrical collar adapted to encircle the well pipe, and wherein the post elements are circumferentially spaced on said collar.

3. The combination set forth in claim 1 in which the carrier comprises a longitudinal member adapted to be fixed to the outer surface of the well pipe, and wherein the post elements are longitudinally spaced on said member.

4. In a device of the class described for generating turbulence in the annular space between a well pipe and the well bore, the combination of: a metallic carrier adapted to be mounted on the outer surface of a well pipe, said carrier having a plurality of spaced apertures, a plurality of retainers having a wall portion of substantial length formed to the shape of at least a portion of said aperture and terminating at one end with an outwardly extending shoulder, a retainer positioned in each said aperture with said wall portion extending outwardly from said carrier and said shoulder positioned inwardly of and engaging said carrier, a continuous length of multiple strand wire cable forming arched loops between said retainers, a segment of said cable between each said arched loop partially encircling said wall portion of a retainer, said retainer wall portion formed outwardly and downwardly to encircle and squeeze said cable segment against the outer surface of said carrier for anchoring said retainer and said cable segment to said carrier, and means for forcing the loop portions of the cable length to project outwardly from the well pipe.

5. The combination set forth in claim 4 in which the carrier comprises a cylindrical collar adapted to encircle the well pipe, and wherein said apertures are circumferentially spaced on said collar.

6. The combination set forth in claim 4 in which the carrier comprises a longitiudinal member adapted to be fixed to the well pipe, and wherein said apertures are longitudinally spaced on said member.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,714,424 Atkinson Aug. 2, 1955 2,787,328 Atkinson Apr. 2, 1957 2,826,253 Wright et a1 Mar. 11, 1958 2,881,840 Wright et al. Apr. 14, 1959 2,918,974 Johnson Dec. 29, 1959 2,968,352 Hene Jan. 17, 1961 3,074,483 Solum et al. Jan. 22, 1963 

4. IN A DEVICE OF THE CLASS DESCRIBED FOR GENERATING TURBULENCE IN THE ANNULAR SPACE BETWEEN A WELL PIPE AND THE WELL BORE, THE COMBINATION OF: A METALLIC CARRIER ADAPTED TO BE MOUNTED ON THE OUTER SURFACE OF A WELL PIPE, SAID CARRIER HAVING A PLURALITY OF SPACED APERTURES, A PLURALITY OF RETAINERS HAVING A WALL PORTION OF SUBSTANTIAL LENGTH FORMED TO THE SHAPE OF AT LEAST A PORTION OF SAID APERTURE AND TERMINATING AT ONE END WITH AN OUTWARDLY EXTENDING SHOULDER, A RETAINER POSITIONED IN EACH SAID APERTURE WITH SAID WALL PORTION EXTENDING OUTWARDLY FROM SAID CARRIER AND SAID SHOULDER POSITIONED INWARDLY OF AND ENGAGING SAID CARRIER, A CONTINUOUS LENGTH OF MULTIPLE STRAND WIRE CABLE FORMING ARCHED LOOPS BETWEEN SAID RETAINERS, A SEGMENT OF SAID CABLE BETWEEN EACH SAID ARCHED LOOP PARTIALLY ENCIRCLING SAID WALL PORTION OF A RETAINER, SAID RETAINER WALL PORTION FORMED OUTWARDLY AND DOWNWARDLY TO ENCIRCLE AND SQUEEZE SAID CABLE SEGMENT AGAINST THE OUTER SURFACE OF SAID CARRIER FOR ANCHORING SAID RETAINER AND SAID CABLE SEGMENT TO SAID CARRIER, AND MEANS FOR FORCING THE LOOP PORTIONS OF THE CABLE LENGTH TO PROJECT OUTWARDLY FROM THE WELL PIPE. 